Valve



Nov. 7, 1967 T, JONES 3,351,318

VALVE Filed June 9, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WLL/HM I: EA/Es. fl/vm/ Nov. 7, 1967 3 w. T. JONES 3,351,318

VALVE Filed June 9, 1965' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,351,318 VALVE William T. Jones, 4299 Ristow Drive, La Canada, Calif. 91011 Filed June 9, 1965, Ser. No. 462,545 13 Claims. (Cl. 251-488) The present invention relates to valves for controlling fluid flow, and it relates more particularly to a valve of novel construction having advantages over conventional valves in various uses thereof, and having particular utility for controlling the entry and exit of fluids through the hull of a boat.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a valve which is particularly simple in construction and operation, and which is easy to assemble and disassemble.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a valve having a relatively large and smoothly contoured flow passage therethrough, yet which requires a minimum amount of movement of the valve element in the body for opening and closing the valve.

Prior art valves employed to control the intake or ejection of fluids through a boat hull normally employed a cylindrical plunger or piston type valve element which moved at right angles to the plane of the boat hull at that point, and the bottom or outer end surface of the plunger was arranged at right angles to the axis of the plunger so that it could be flush with the bottom surface of the hull in the closed position of the valve. However, that construction required a very long stroke of movement of the valve element between its closed and open positions, because in order to provide fluid communication between the opening at the bottom of the hull and a port in the valve body or housing inside of the boat, it was necessary to move the said outer end surface of the valve element through at least a distance corresponding to the thickness of the hull, the thickness of the means for attaching the valve to the hull, and the cross-section of the port within the hull. This long stroke of movement of the valve element that was required in prior art boat hull valves made the valves relatively large in size and tended to complicate the structures required for operating the valves.

In view of these and other problems in connection with boat hull valves and other valves where it is desirable that the outer end of the valve element be flush with a surface in the closed position of the valve, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel valve of the character described wherein the valve element has its outer end surface disposed at an oblique angle relative to the axis of the valve element and the valve element is adapted to move between its closed and open positions in a combination of translational and rotational movements, whereby the valve may be mounted so that the axis of the valve element is oblique to the surface of the boat hull or other structure so that the oblique end surface of the valve element will be flush therewith, and this oblique end surface of the valve element cooperates with the novel combined movements of the valve element to provide a wide-open and smoothly-contoured passage through the valve with a minimum of movement of the valve element, and with the valve element fully withdrawn in its open position so that it does not project outwardly beyond the said surface of the boat hull or other structure.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear during the course of the following part of the specification wherein the details of construction and mode of operation of a presently preferred embodiment are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is top plan view showing a valve embodying the present invention, the valve being in its fully closed and sealed position.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22 in FIGURE 1, with portions shown in elevation.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the valve taken on the line 44 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken axially through the valve element and body on the line 55 in FIGURE 2, showing the valve in its fully closed and sealed position, with the operating handle folded down alongside of the valve body and in a position generally parallel to the axis of the valve body.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 5, but with the operating handle pivoted outwardly and upwardly from the valve body to a position generally at right angles with respect to the axis of the valve body, the seal being released in this position, but the valve still being generally closed.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view similar to FIGURESS and 6, but with the operating handle rotated approximately from the position of FIGURE 6, and with the valve element moved to its open position.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view generally similar to FIG- URE 2, but with the entire valve element shown in elevation and in the open position of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary axial section of the upper end portion of the seal actuator sleeve.

Briefly, a valve embodying the present invention includes a generally cylindrical valve body or housing with a generally cylindrical valve element movably mounted in the body, and means for guiding themovement of the valve element in the body in a combination of both axial sliding and rotational movements. One of the two fluid ports of the valve is an open end of the cylindrical housing, and the other port is a side opening in the cylindrical housing that is disposed close to the open end port. The valve element acts as a gate, and in its closed position it is moved outwardly with respect to the body so that a portion of its cylindrical side surface blocks the side port and so that its outer end surface blocks the end port. A novel feature of the valve is that the outer end surface of the valve element is oriented obliquely with respect to the axis of the valve element and body so that in effect one semi-cylindrical half of the valve element is longer and projects outwardly further than the other semicylindrical half. The longer half covers the side port in the closed position of the valve element. When the valve element is moved from the closed to the open position, it is rotated through approximately 180, thereby turning the other, short semicylindrical half of the valve element toward the side port, which partially opens the side port, and inward translational movement of the valve element completes the opening of the side port, with the outer end surface of the valve element providing a smoothly contoured guide which acts as a beveled flow diverting surface for conducting fluids from one port to the other. This construction permits the side port to be very close tothe end port opening, so that only a small amount of movement is required for the valve element to move between its closed and open positions, and the resulting device is particularly simple in construction and lends itself to easy assembly and disassembly. Inclusion of a resilient cylindrical seal as a part of the valve element, and the control of this seal, are also particularly simple.

This valve is particularly suitable where it is desirable to have the end surface of the valve element flush with the bottom of the boat hull or with a surface of some other structure when the valve is closed. It permits the side port to be positioned close to the hull or other structure, and the combined translational and rotational movements of the valve element result in complete withdrawal of the outer end of the valve element within the hull when the valve element is moved to its open position, so that the valve does not present any obstructions which project downwardly from the bottom of the hull or outwardly from the surface of some other structure.

Referring to the drawings, a valve embodying the present invention is shown operatively associated with a structure 12 such as a boat hull which has a generally flat shape in the region of the valve. The valve includes a generally cylindrical body or housing 14 having a lower or outer end 16 and an upper end 18, the lower end 16 defining an end port 20 which is one of the two fiuid ports of the valve. The lower end 16 of the valve body lies generally in a plane that is oblique with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body, with a preferred angle of about 45 from the normal. The valve body 14 is preferably mounted with its axis at this same angle with respect to the plane of the structure 12, so that the lower or outer end 16 of the valve body will be flush with the lower or outer surface of the boat hull or other structure 12 as best shown in FIGURES 2 and 8.

With this inclination of the lower or outer end 16 relative to the axis of the body, the body can be considered as comprising two semicylindrical sectors, a relatively long sector 22 having a sharp lower end corner with an acute angle, and a relatively short sector 23 having a blunt lower end at an obtuse angle.

A side port 24 opens through the wall of the body in the long semicylindrical sector 22 thereof adjacent the lower end 16 of the body. The side port 24 provides communication between the inside of the body and a tubular connector 25 which may be integrally formed with the body as shown in the drawings, and which preferably extends generally at a right angle with respect to the axis of the body. The connector 25 is shown with a hose 26 secured thereto by means of a band clamp 28.

The body 14 and connector 25 are provided with a mounting flange 30 that is integral in the form of the invention shown in the drawings. Mounting flange 30 is arranged generally in a plane parallel to the plane of the lower end 16 of the body so that flange 30 can be secured against the inner surface of the boat hull 12 or other structure by suitable fasteners 31. An opening 32 extends obliquely through the structure 12, and the lower end portion of the body below the flange 30 is fitted therein.

A generally cylindrically shaped valve element 34 is both axially slidably and rotatably mounted within the valve body 14. Valve element 34 includes an elongated core 36 which may be a unitary structure, the core having an enlarged head portion 38 having a lower or outer end surface 40. The head portion 38 and its outer end surface 40 are disposed obliquely with respect to the axis of the valve element, and in the closed position of the valve element as best shown in FIGURE 2 the end surface 40 is flush and co-planar with the body end 16 and with the outer surface of the structure 12. The core 36 also includes a diametrically reduced stem portion 42 which extends from the head 38 through the length of the valve body 14 and projects out of the upper or inner end 18 of the valve body. Thus, the enlarged head portion 38 of the core 36 presents an inwardly or upwardly facing shoulder 44 at the juncture between the head 38 and the stem 42.

A sealing sleeve 46 composed of neoprene or other suitable resilient material is circumferentially engaged over the stem 42 and has an oblique lower end which seats against the shoulder 44 of the head. Thus, the sealing sleeve 46 is of generally wedge-shaped configuration. With the sleeve 46 in its relaxed condition there is suficient clearance between the sleeve 46 and the inner surface of the valve body to permit the valve element 34 to be freely moved within the valve body, both axially and rotationally.

concentrically engaged over the stem portion 42 next in line above the sealing sleeve 46 is a seal actuator sleeve 48 of rigid material which extends upwardly through the valve body to an upper end located above the upper end 18 of the body. The actuator sleeve 48 has a web 50 disposed in its upper end, and positioned generally diametrically in sleeve 48. The web 50 functions as a cam follower. Web 50 is slidably engaged within a longitudinally extending, diametrically arranged slot 52 in the upper end of stem 42 of the valve element.

Also positioned in the slot 52 at the upper end of the valve stem is a cam plate 54 to which the operating handle 56 of the valve is integrally connected, and the plate 54 and handle 56 are pivoted as a unit in this position by means of pin 58 which extends through the upper end of stem 42 generally at a right angle with respect to the plane of the slot 52. Thus, the handle 56 is pivotal between a closed position as shown in FIGURES 1 and 5 alongside of the valve body and generally parallel to the axis of the body, and an open or operative position as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 wherein the handle is disposed generally at right angles with respect to the axis of the body.

The cam plate 54 includes a compression surface 60 which is engaged against the actuator sleeve web 50 when the handle is down as shown in FIGURES 1 and 5, and the spacing between the pin 58 and the compression surface 60 is such that the lower end of the seal actuator sleeve 48 applies a substantial axial compression force against the upper rim of the sealing sleeve 46 so as to radially expand the sealing sleeve 46 to completely seal off the communication in the body between ports 20 and 22.

The cam plate 54 also includes a release surface 62 which is engaged against the web 50 in the open or operating position of the handle as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, and the distance between the pin 58 and surface 62 0f the cam is such that the seal actuator sleeve 48 does not apply substantial axial pressure to the sealing sleeve 46, whereby the valve element 34 is free to slide axially and to rotate within the valve body. Thus, the release surface 62 on the cam plate is substantially closer to pivot pin 58 than the compression surface 60, and when the handle is lifted up from its closed position of FIGURE 5 to its operating position of FIGURE 6 the seal actuator sleeve 48 will shift upwardly on the core 36 of the valve element. The cam plate 54 is provided with an intermediate contour 64 between the surfaces 60 and 62 to provide a smooth camming action.

While movement of the handle 56 from the closed position of FIGURE 5 to the open or operating position of FIGURE 6 will release the compression of sealing sleeve 46 and prepare the valve for opening, nevertheless the valve is still substantially closed in FIGURE 6.

Accordingly, suitable structure is provided for applying the combined axial sliding and rotational movement of the valve element 34 required to shift the valve element 34 from its closed position of FIGURE 2 to its open position of FIGURES 7 and 8. While such structure may take any of a variety of forms, a presently preferred form is shown in the drawings, and includes a guide pin 66 arranged transversely with respect to the valve body, and extending through a transverse bore 68 r in the stem 42 of the valve element, and through a pair of diametrically opposed, elongated openings 70 in the sleeve 48, and having its outer ends engaged within a pair of diametrically opposed helical slots 72 in the valve body 14. Thus, the guide pin 66 is fixed with relation to the core 36 of the valve element, but the elongated openings 70 through the seal actuator sleeve 48 permit the required axial sliding of the sleeve 48 on the stern portion 42 of the core .36 without interference from the pin 66. The helical slots 72 each extend from a lower end 74 approximately 180 around the body to an upper end 76. In the closed position of the valve as shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 5, the guide pin 66 will be seated in the lower ends 74 of the helical slots 72, and these lower ends 74 are preferably laterally oifset as shown in FIGURE 1 to provide a locking action. After the handle 56 has been raised from the position of FIG- 'URE 5 to the position of FIGURE 6 to release the sealing sleeve 46, then the handle 56 is rotated so as to drive the ends of the guide pin 66 upwardly through the helical slots 72 to the upper ends 76 thereof, which also may be somewhat laterally offset (not shown) to provide an open locking action. This will apply a combined rotational and axial sliding movement to the valve element 34 from its closed position of FIGURES 1, 2, 5 and 6 to its open position of FIGURES 7 and 8.

It is to be noted that this opening movement of the valve element 34 involves only a relatively small extent of upward axial sliding movement, yet the passageway in the valve body between the end port 20 and the side port 22 has been completely opened for the unobstructed flow of fluids in either direction through the valve. During the opening movement the outer end surface 40 of the valve element has been twisted around from its position as shown in FIGURE 2 flush with the outer surface of the boat hull or other structure 12 to its position of FIGURE 8 in which it is generally at a right angle with respect to the plane of the structure 12. Thus, the surface 49 has been effectively moved as would a fiap valve element be moved, through an arc of about 90. In this open position of the valve element as shown in FIGURE 8, the end surface 40 of the valve element provides a smoothly contoured guide which acts as a beveled flow-diverting surface for conducting the fluids from one port to the other. In this regard, it is to be noted that the surface 40 in FIGURE 8 is disposed at an angle of approximately 45 relative to the axis of the body within which port 20 is located, and is arranged similarly at an angle of about 45 with respect to the axis of the tubular connector 25 which terminates at the port 22.

It is also to be noted that this combined translational and rotational movement of the valve element 34 results in a retraction of the outer end portion of the valve element which is sufficient so that no part of the valve element projects outwardly beyond the lower end 16 of the body, or the outer surface of the structure 12. This is an important feature in use of the valve in connection with a boat hull.

The valve element 34 may, like the body, be considered as comprising a pair of semicylindn'cal sectors, a long sector 78 and a short sector 80. In the closed position of the valve element 34, as best illustrated in FIGURE 2, the long sectors 22 and 78 of the'body and valve element are in overlapping relationship, and similarly the short sectors and 23 and 80 of the body and element are in overlapping relationship. However, when the valve element is moved to its open position as best shown in FIGURE 8, the overlapping relationship is reversed, so that the long sector 22 of the body now overlaps the short sector 80 of the valve element, while the short sector 23 of the body overlaps the long sector 78 of the element.

Closing of the valve is accomplished by merely reversing the movements employed to open the valve. Thus, the handle 56 is rotated back through 180 from the position of FIGURE 7 to that of FIGURE 6, causing the guide pin 66 to ride down through the helical slots 72 and rotatably and translationally moving the valve element 34 from the position of FIGURE 8 to the position of FIGURE 2. Then, the handle 56 is folded down beside the valve body as shown in FIGURE 5, and this folding movement performs the combined function of moving the handle to an inoperative position that is out of the way, and of camrning the seal actuator sleeve 48 'valve body having an end surface that is downwardly over the core 36 of the valve element to compress the sealing sleeve 46 to its sealing position. This utilization of the operating handle 56 to both control the pressure on sealing sleeve 46 and move the valve element has the added advantage of preventing attempts to shift the valve element 34 in the body while the sealing sleeve is compressed, which could possibly damage the valve, since the handle cannot be used to rotate the valve element until it is swung upwardly, and this action releases the sealing sleeve.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that de partures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A valve which comprises a tubular body having an open outer end defining an end port, a side port in the wall of the body, and a generally cylindrical valve element axially slidably and rotatably mounted in the body, the valve element having an outer end surface disposed generally oblique to the axis of the element so that a first semicylindrical sector extends outwardly further than a second, opposite semicylindrical sector of the element, the element being movable axially inwardly and rotationally between a closed position wherein said first sector faces generally toward and blocks off said side port and an open position wherein said second sector faces generally toward the side port and clears at least a substantial part thereof, and means engageable between said body and element for guiding the element both rotationally and axially inwardly when the element is moved between its said closed and open positions, said end surface of the element defining a wall portion of a flow channel between said ports in said open position, and said open end of the generally oblique to the axis of the body, said end surface of the valve element being generally flush with said end surface of the body in said closed position.

2. A valve as defined in claim 1, wherein said end surfaces of the element and body are substantially flat and substantially coplanar.

3. A valve as defined in claim 1, wherein the valve element slides axially a sufiicient distance when the element is moved from its said closed to its said open position so that the outer end of the element is substantially completely recessed within the outer end of the body when the element reaches the open position.

4. A valve which comprises a tubular body having an open outer end defining an end port, a side port in the wall of the body, a generally cylindrical valve element axially. slidably and rotatably mounted in the body, the valve element having an outer end surface disposed generally oblique to the axis of the element so that a first semicylindrical sector extends outwardly further than a second, opposite semicylindrical sector of the element, and resilient sealing means on the periphery of the element in at least a part of said first sector, the element being movable axially inwardly and rotationally between a closed position wherein said first sector faces generally toward said side port and said sealing means blocks off the side port, and an open position wherein said second sector faces generally toward the side port and clears at least a substantial part thereof, and means on said valve element engageable with said sealing means for selectively expanding said sealing means in a radial direction for sealing engagement over said side port, said end surface of the element defining a wall portion of a flow channel between said ports in said open position.

5. A valve as defined in claim 4, wherein said sealing means comprises a sleeve circumferentially mounted on the valve element.

6. A valve as defined in claim 5, wherein said means for expanding said sealing means comprises fixed shoulder means on the element engageable with one end of the sealing sleeve, and a generally rigid seal actuator sleeve axially slideable on the valve element and engageable 'with the other end of the sealing sleeve, and means mounted on the valve element and engageable with said actuator sleeve for selectively moving the actuator sleeve toward said shoulder means to axially compress the sealing sleeve between the actuator sleeve and shoulder means and thereby expand the sealing sleeve in a radial direction.

7. A valve as defined in claim 6, wherein said means for moving the actuator sleeve comprises cam means pivotally mounted on the valve element and engageable with cam follower means on the seal actuator sleeve.

8. A valve which comprises a tubular body member having an open outer end defining an end port, a side port in the wall of the body, a generally cylindrical valve element member axially slidably and rotatably mounted in the body, the valve element member having an outer end surface disposed generally oblique to the axis thereof so that a first semicylindrical sector extends outwardly further than a second, opposite semicylindrical sectdr of the valve element member, and means for moving the valve element member axially inwardly and rotationally between a closed position wherein said first sector faces generally toward and blocks off said side port and an open position wherein said second sector faces generally toward the side port and clears at least a substantial part thereof, said means comprising a generally helical slot in one of said members and a projection on the other said member engaged in said slot, and a resilient sealing sleeve circumferentially mounted on the valve element member and in covering relationship over said side port in said closed position of the valve element member, and means on the valve element member engageable with said sealing sleeve for selectively expanding the sealing sleeve in a radial direction for sealing said side port.

9. A valve as defined in claim 8, wherein said means for expanding the sealing sleeve comprises a generally rigid seal actuator sleeve axially slideable on the valve element member inwardy from said sealing sleeve, and means engageable between the valve element member and the seal actuator sleeve for selectively moving the actuator sleeve outwardly against the sealing sleeve to a sealing position wherein said sealing sleeve is radially expanded.

10. A valve as defined in claim 9, wherein said means for moving the actuator sleeve comprises a handle pivotally connected to the valve element member inwardly of the seal actuator sleeve, said handle having cam means thereon engagable with the seal actuator sleeve, the handle being pivotal between a closed position thereof generally parallel to the axis of the valve element member wherein said cam means holds the seal actuator sleeve outwardly in its said sealing position, and an open position projecting generally radially from the valve wherein the cam means releases the seal actuator sleeve to relax the sealing sleeve and wherein the handle can be rotated to move the valve element member between its said closed and open positions.

11. A valve for use in connection with a boat hull which comprises a tubular body having an open outer end defining an end port, said valve body being adapted to extend through an opening in the boat hull with said outer end disposed substantially flush with the outer surface of the hull, a side port in the wall of the body, and a generally cylindrical valve element axially slidably and rotatably mounted in the body, the valve element having an outer end surface extending across the inside of said tubular body, the element being movable axially inwardly and rotationally between a closed position wherein said outer end surface of the valve element is generally flush with said end surface of the body and said element blocks off said side port, and an open position wherein said element clears at least a substantial part of said side port, and means engageable between said body and element for guiding the element both rotationally and axially inwardly when the element is moved between its said closed and open positions, said end surface of the element defining a wall portion of a flow channel between said ports in said open position of the valve.

12. A valve as defined in claim 11, wherein said end surfaces of the element and body are substantially flat and substantially coplanar.

13. A valve as defined in claim 11, wherein the valve element slides axially a sufiicient distance when the element is moved from its said closed to its said open position so that the outer end of the element is substantially completely recessed within the outer end of the body when the element reaches the open positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,459,809 6/ 1923 Wangenheim 251 1,634,960 7/1927 Rahling 251l62 2,571,356 10/1951 Gates 25l263 3,046,802 7/1962 Cupedo 251-162 3,072,379 1/ 1963 Hamer 251--171 779,786 1/1905 Kilbourn 251-162 2,421,479 6/ 1947 Bunten 251-310 X FOREIGN PATENTS 44,575 9/ 1888 Germany. 621,142 4/ 1949 Great Britain.

M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

R. C. MILLER, Assistant Examiner. 

11. A VALVE FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH A BOAT HULL WHICH COMPRISES A TUBULAR BODY HAVING AN OPEN OUTER END DEFINING AN END PORT, SAID VALVE BODY BEING ADAPTED TO EXTEND THROUGH AN OPENING IN THE BOAT HULL WITH SAID OUTER END DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE HULL, A SIDE PORT IN THE WALL OF THE BODY, AND A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL VALVE ELEMENT AXIALLY SLIDABLY AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN THE BODY, THE VALVE ELEMENT HAVING AN OUTER END SURFACE EXTENDING ACROSS THE INSIDE OF SAID TUBULAR BODY, THE ELEMENT BEING MOVABLE AXIALLY INWARDLY AND ROTATIONALLY BETWEEN A CLOSED POSITION WHEREIN SAID OUTER END SURFACE OF THE VALVE ELEMENT IS GENERALLY FLUSH WITH SAID END SURFACE OF THE BODY AND SAID ELEMENT BLOCKS OFF SAID SIDE PORT, AND AN OPEN POSITION WHEREIN SAID ELEMENT CLEARS AT LEAST A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF SAID SIDE PORT, AND MEANS ENGAGEABLE BETWEEN SAID BODY AND ELEMENT FOR GUIDING THE ELEMENT BOTH ROTATIONALLY AND AXIALLY INWARDLY WHEN THE ELEMENT IS MOVED BETWEEN ITS SAID CLOSED AND OPEN POSITIONS, SAID END SURFACE OF THE ELEMENT DEFINING A WALL PORTION OF A FLOW CHANNEL BETWEEN SAID PORTS IN SAID OPEN POSITION OF THE VALVE. 